Cross-Cultural Awareness: How to Tell a Group from Individualistic Culture

The Group Dimension of the CultureWizard Intercultural Model® explains the very different cross-cultural dynamics between Group-oriented cultures and Individualistic cultures, awareness of which is critically important for businesspeople.

For example, I have a home in “the country” – in a highly Individualistic country, by the way – where it’s always very quiet. One day, the quiet was shattered by a neighbor’s home alarm. I immediately called the police, who told me they had received numerous calls and had checked the house, and all was OK. I asked if they could turn it off because it was disturbing the community, but the officer said they couldn’t enter the house without the owner’s permission.

There are hundreds of examples like this. In Individualistic societies, quite often the rights of the individual are protected over the welfare of the Group. As a matter of fact, those rights are enshrined in a country’s laws. Conversely, in a Group-oriented culture, police officers would have no concern about entering the home and turning off the alarm because their primary responsibility is to the community – and that community was being disturbed.

Here are a dozen signposts to help improve your cross-cultural awareness in the Group Dimension. You’ll learn how to recognize the behaviors of Group and Individualistic cultures, and have the chance to take a cross-cultural awareness quiz to test your learning.

Signs of Individualistic Culture:

1. People talk about themselves—what they did and think.
2. Individual achievement is publicly recognized. People appreciate individual recognition and praise.
3. People are comfortable asking for and taking individual responsibility.
4. People often use expressions like, “I believe…” “I think….” “It’s my opinion.”
5. Competition between individuals is encouraged. It’s seen as a way to improve performance.
6. People are encouraged to be self-sufficient. Getting things done on your own is expected.
7. Heroes are “self-made” individuals.
8. Individual freedom is very important. Society institutionalizes individual and minority rights.
9. Decision-making is accomplished by the majority. Consensus is not needed.
10. People are encouraged to speak up. From childhood on, people are led to believe that their opinions count.
11. Participants are active in meetings and presentations and may speak frequently. They want to assert their individual thinking.
12. Standing out from the crowd, bbeing unique is encouraged. In dress, expressing individuality in clothes, etc. is encouraged.

Signs of Group-Oriented Culture:

1. People talk about the team and the community. They prefer to be seen as part of a team rather than an individual performer.
2. Each person defines their role in relationship to the group.
3. Harmony within the group is important. Cooperation is encouraged.
4. Focus is on the well-being of the group rather than the individual, and people expect to make personal sacrifices for the group.
5. Decisions are generally reached by consensus.
6. Group achievement is recognized. Individual accomplishment is downplayed.
7. All people in the group must be taken into consideration.
8. People do not need to express their individual feelings and beliefs.
9. Calling attention to oneself is frowned upon. Conformity is most appropriate.
10. Children often wear school uniforms.
11. Emphasis is on the extended family and community.
12. Laws and behavioral codes are reflective of their culture. Laws protect groups of people.

Cross-Cultural Awareness Quiz: Group versus Individualistic Cultures

Now that you’ve aware of the signs that differ most across Group and Individualistic cultures, take the “You know you’re in a Group culture if …” quiz. Simply note the numbers of the statements that indicate a Group culture, and then scroll down to see the answer key below (correct answers are in boldface).

You Know You’re in A Group Culture If…

1. People talk about their team.
2. Unanimous decisions are sought.
3. People compete for attention.
4. Everyone expresses their opinions during a meeting.
5. People wear distinctive clothing.
6. Job applicants talk about their accomplishments.
7. Team recognition is most important.
8. Harmony in the workplace is highly regarded.

To further improve your awareness of cross-cultural dynamics in the Group Dimension, read our detailed blog post, The Group Dimension: Key to Managing Multicultural Group Dynamics.

Learn More: 

Answer Key: You Know You’re in A Group Culture If… 

1. People talk about their team.
2. Unanimous decisions are sought.
3. People compete for attention.
4. Everyone expresses their opinions during a meeting.
5. People wear distinctive clothing.
6. Job applicants talk about their accomplishments.
7. Team recognition is most important.
8. Harmony in the workplace is highly regarded.